US President Donald Trump's recent comments regarding Greenland's "acquisition" have drawn sharp scrutiny for their implications on international law and the UN Charter. During his January 21 address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump reiterated the US's interest in Greenland, framing it as a strategic necessity for national and global security. While avoiding explicit references to military annexation, he invoked historical US territorial expansions, stating, "This enormous unsettled island is actually part of North America, in the Western Hemisphere. That's our territory."
The remarks followed earlier tensions in January 2026, when Trump reportedly sought a defense agreement with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to secure "unlimited right of use" in Greenland. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen swiftly rejected the proposal, emphasizing that Denmark retains sovereignty over Greenland under a 1951 defense pact with the US. European nations also reinforced their stance by deploying symbolic forces to the region earlier this month.
Analysts warn that Trump's rhetoric challenges the UN Charter's Article 2(4), which prohibits the threat or use of force against territorial integrity. He Weiwen, a senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, noted that such narratives risk normalizing coercive territorial claims, potentially destabilizing global norms. "The post-1945 international order was built to prevent exactly this kind of expansionist logic," he said.
While the US administration has softened its approach by withdrawing tariff threats against European critics, the broader geopolitical implications remain contentious. Greenland, rich in resources and strategically located in the Arctic, continues to be a focal point for global powers amid shifting climate and security dynamics.
